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Study: Video Games Allow Teens to Explore Social, Civic Outlets

Jim Liebelt

Jim Liebelt's Blog

2008Sep 18

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A
new study released by the Pew Internet and American Life Project shows
that video games might not have quite the negative affect on teens/kids
as many of us fear. In fact, the study indicates that kids who game
together are more likely to volunteer, perform charity work and become
politically involved. The key here seems to be "gaming together." Kids
who play video games together learn positive social interaction skills.
So, it seems, let 'em play (together)! Still, you'll want to oversee
what games and how much they play.

Video games may
not stunt teenagers' social growth and civic engagement as many parents
have long feared, according to a study just released.

However, researchers did find a correlation between how teens play the games and their social development.

Children
who game together—whether in family basements or after-school clubs—are
more likely to volunteer, raise money for a charity or participate
politically than those who play alone, according to a report by the Pew
Internet and American Life Project in Washington.

Sixty-four
percent of those who play with others in the room said they have raised
money for a charitable cause, for example, compared with 55 percent of
those who are in a room alone when they play. The engagement did not
appear to be affected by how often the teens played or the types of
games they chose.

About two-thirds of teenage gamers said they
most often play with others in the room. This counters many stereotypes
of gaming as a young boy huddled alone in front of his computer. Nine
of every 10 teenagers surveyed said they play some type of video game—a
sign of how ubiquitous gaming has become. Despite concerns about sexual
and violent content, nine video games sold every second last year,
according to the Entertainment Software Association. More than a third
of U.S. households now have a gaming console.